A High Court in Accra has dismissed an injunction application filed by the National Service Authority (NSA) to block the publication of an investigative report by The Fourth Estate, the investigative arm of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).
On December 19, 2024, lawyers representing the MFWA, led by Mr. Samson Anyenini, appeared in court to argue that the case was frivolous and an abuse of court processes, urging the court to reject the application.
But even before the MFWA’s lawyers could mount their defense, the NSA’s lawyers from Sam Okudzeto and Associates, beat a hasty retreat.
They announced to the court that they had filed a notice of discontinuance of their case.
Lawyers for the MFWA then told the court that the NSA knew very well that they had no cause of action and no capacity to sue, and thus, the discontinuance notice was a preemptive action.
Counsel for the MFWA further told the court that the NSA’s action was a SLAPP suit only for the purpose of the ex-parte injunction to serve their interest.
The case was accordingly struck out by the court. The court then awarded a cost of GHC6,000 in favour of the MFWA. The court also prohibited the NSA from coming back to court to refile the case.
The decision of the court paves the way for the publication of the story as had advertised. The story will, therefore, be released to the public soon.
On December 2, 2024, the NSA run to court on the blind side of the MFWA, to secure a 10-day Ex Parte injunction to prevent The Fourth Estate from publishing a series of investigative stories on acts of corruption that were due to be released from December 3, 2024.
NSS Scandal: Court Strikes Out Injunction Application and Fines them GH₵6,000. This paves the way for us to serve you with the story. https://t.co/9g6TQHXXZO
— Sulemana Braimah (@sulemana) December 19, 2024
